NASHVILLE, TENN - Tennessee State stayed close with Kansas State in the first half, but the Wildcats pulled away in the second as the Lady Tigers fell 62-47 at the Gentry Center Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (3-0) started strong putting together a 13-2 run in the first eleven-and-a-half minutes. After Avery Jones put TSU on the scoreboard with a layup on the second possession of the game, the Lady Tigers went on a scoreless stretch of 11 minutes before Destiney Gaston ended the K-State run with a layup of her own.

Jones led TSU with 14 points and eight rebounds.

TSU continued to battle and chip away at the Wildcat lead getting the margin under 10 on a Tanesha Stenson jumper to make it 21-13 with 7:12 left in the first half. The Stenson jumper started a 14-7 TSU run that ended the half with Kansas State holding a 28-25 advantage.

Stenson, a sophomore from Nashville, had career-highs with 12 points and 22 minutes.

KSU started the second half just like they did the first and turned a three point lead into a 14 point lead within seven minutes.

The Lady Tigers made just four shots in the second half, two each from Simone Hopes and Jones, while shooting 24 percent for the game. Hopes tied Jones for the team lead with eight boards.

K-State was led by Haley Texanda who had a game-high 17 points, and Kendra Spresser with a game best 12 rebounds.

The Wildcats have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four of the past five seasons reaching the second round three times.
The Tigers will spend Thanksgiving in Birmingham, Ala., as they face UAB on Friday at 2 p.m. CST and Samford on Saturday at 3 p.m.